Just so you know, I'll be calling Shawn, Sho from now on :)

Chapter Two: Walking and Riots

Arrietty trudged through the dirt, kicking up small could of dust as she walked, and her throat felt dry and scratchy. The sun was resting lazily in the middle of the sky so it was about noon. Arrietty decided it would be all right if she stopped for a moment to get some water. But just for a moment she still needed to get to Sho in time, she had to warn him.

Arrietty stumbled towards the stream and fell to her knees at the river's edge. She leaned forward and cupped a droplet of water in her hand then drank it down quickly. The water was refreshing and cool despite the hot sun.

Arrietty dipped her hands into the water again and dumped some of the water on her head, sighing with relief as the cool liquid rushed across her skin.

Despite her protesting legs Arrietty stood up and continued walking, if she continued at this rate she could make it to Sho's by afternoon tomorrow. Sho. Arrietty inwardly sighed.

Snap

Arrietty stopped and whirled around reaching for her pin, her hand grasped nothing, only air. No! I couldn't have forgotten my pin at a moment like this! Looking up in fear Arrietty saw a field mouse.

Field mice may be harmless to 'beans' but they are deadly to borrowers. Arrietty tried to step back slowly but this only agitated the beast further. The brown mouse let out a blood-curdling squeal before it leaped at Arrietty. The small borrower stumbled backwards and fell on her back. She quickly fumbled around with her surroundings; wrapping her hand around clump of dust, she flung it into the creature's eyes before it could pounce on her.

Squealing in pain the mouse stumbled to the side, trying to wipe his eyes with the back of his paw.

Arrietty jumped up and scrambled away as quickly as she could. Her heart pounding she sprinted long after she knew the mouse was far behind. Panting, Arrietty slowed to a stop. Gasping for air, Arrietty slumped against a rock near the stream's edge. Arrietty now knew she was vulnerable and her best defense would be to run and hide. Pulling her hair in frustration Arrietty thought of Sho. Oh I hope I get there in time. Arrietty turned her gaze to the stream that was flowing past her.

"Right now, all I can do is follow the river" Arrietty sighed before she continued walking.

~:~:~:~

Spiller made his way through the grass up towards the grate. He had a raspberry in his hand, they were Arrietty's favorite and he figured it would make her feel a little better.

Spiller climbed up the vines leading to the grate and sung off onto the cement floor. He slid through the bars only to bump into a strange figure.

"Oh hey there Slicker, going to visit Arrietty?" Ryus said, his dark hair falling in his face, he had a traveling bag and a scissor strapped to his back. Spiller grunted and nodded.

"Name Spiller" Spiller replied gruffly.

"Right, right, Sticker. Well I've got places to go, people to see. I'd like to leave you with one thought, but I don't think you'd know where to put it" Ryus snickered as her jumped down from the grate. Spiller resisted the urge impale the borrower with an arrow.

Spiller jumped down from the grate and made his way toward the house. He slid open the brick and made his way into the kitchen. He heard the muffled sounds of a woman sobbing. Spiller rushed into the kitchen, his bow in hand, and saw Homily sitting in a chair holding Arrietty's pin. The poor woman was rocking back and fourth saying the same thing over and over again.

"Gone… Gone…" Homily wailed clutching the pin tightly. Spiller knelt down next to Homily dropping his bow and the raspberry.

"Who gone?" Spiller asked, but this only brought on more tears from Homily. Spiller's heart clenched and he began to panic, grabbing his bow Spiller crashed down the hall to Arrietty's room. He saw the door was open he looked inside and saw Pod standing in the middle of the room.

"Where Arrietty?" Spiller asked. Pod's face remained blank. Spiller roughly turned Pod around to face him and asked again "Where Arrietty?"

Pod looked at Spiller. "I think she went to warn Sho." He replied.

There was a pause Spiller was about to turn around, he had to find Arrietty, and he needed to make sure she was safe.

"Wait." Pod said. Spiller stopped and looked at the man. "I need you to find Arrietty, I can't go, and Homily needs me." Pod looked at Spiller with a pleading face. "Please?" he asked. Spiller clamped Pod's shoulder with his hand.

"Spiller would find Arrietty even if Pod told him to stay."

Pod smiled weakly then returned to the kitchen and helped his wife into her bed. Spiller didn't wait to say goodbye. In a flash he was back outside looking for Arrietty's tracks.

He found the familiar mark of Arrietty's shoe and determined which direction she'd headed. The tracks said she'd left late last night, maybe even early in the morning. If her tracks continued they reach the river. From there Spiller could easily catch up to Arrietty, because of his knowledge of the land and superior stamina. Spiller, with his bow at the ready darted off, following Arrietty's tracks.

~:~:~:~

Ryus walked calmly through the crowded streets of the underground city. He'd used his grappling hook to climb into the back of a truck and rode to the nearest town, only a 15-minute drive by car.

Ryus pushed his way through the throngs of people, a cacophony of sounds slammed against his ears.

"Buy your grapes here, freshest of the bunch for a bargain!"

"Genuine silk thread! Best around!"

"Teacup from a doll's house made of real china!"

Ryus ignored the salespeople's attempts to mooch him out of his borrowings. Unlike the 'beans', borrowers didn't have a currency, they traded their borrowings for other things they needed. Besides, trade wasn't the reason why he was here.

Pushing through the crowd he made his way to the town square. Ryus saw a man, about his Father's age, standing on a podium made of matchboxes. He was clearly rallying the crowd.

"It's time for us to revolt against our oppressors! This world belongs to us! Why should we watch as they force us out of our homes? They set their animals on us! And smoke us out with poisonous gas! They even destroy our families!" The man cried. His voice was clear and strong, his clean-cut suit was made of borrowed cloth and his hair was neatly combed.

"With their rat traps they kill our friends, our families! It's time we asked ourselves, will I be next?" The man's voice grew softer but lost none of its determination. Ryus felt a pang in his heart.

"Maybe it will be your child, your mother, your wife, your sisters and brothers. Ryus's heart dropped. Cal. He thought, clenching his fist tightly. "And what about you, young man?" the speaker said reaching down towards Ryus. "Have you lost a loved one to the 'beans'?"

Ryus took a deep breath. "Yes." He said softly.

"I'm sorry young man, I'm afraid they can't hear you."

"I said yes!" Ryuss replied, stronger this time.

"You see? This is the world the 'beans' make for us! One of sadness and loss, and if we continue like this, our children will be the last of our kind!"

The crowd gasped, and a few children were crying. "But fear not," The speaker said gently. "I have a plan, we will revolt against the 'beans', and regain our freedom! We will start at a house not far from here where many borrower families have been forced to leave their homes, and we will strike! We will go from house to house freeing our people. Join me in saving our kind!" The crowd erupted with cheers. Ryus felt himself clapping, he met eyes with the speaker, and they were a sharp silver color, like a blade.

After the speaker had organized a meeting for the revolutionists that night he approached Ryus.

"I understand you've lost a loved on to the 'beans'." The man said resting a hand on Ryus 's shoulder. Ryus nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, who did you lose?" Asked the speaker.

Ryus sighed sadly, "His name was Cal, and he was my brother."

"My name is Einar, and I have also lost my family to the 'beans'." Ryus looked up at Einar. "I know it seems hopeless now, but we will punish those who took your brother away from you." Einar finished.

"What about you?" Ryus asked hesitantly before Einar turned away, "who did you lose?"

Einar's back stiffened and his steely eyes appeared misty for a moment. "My wife and daughters. They were killed by bug spray."

Ryus stood there for a moment then walked towards Einar and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "I will join you, and we will make those who we've lost proud." Einar smiled and nodded before climbing back onto the matchboxes and continuing his speech. Ryus continued to watch and something stirred in his chest.

"I wish it was you." Ryus shook his head and pushed the memory out of his mind. Clenching his fist tightly he whispered "I will make you proud."

~:~:~:~

Arrietty continued her ascent up the hill. She'd been walking up this hill for at least an hour and a half and it didn't help that it was dark out, so she could barely see. "Oof!" Arrietty grunted as she tripped over yet another rock. Sighing exasperatedly she pushed herself back on her feet, wincing as she walked. I probably have blisters. She thought. She walked for about 10 more minutes before deciding it would be best to rest as soon as she reached the top of the hill. Squinting as she tried to make out the objects in front of her Arrietty slowly made her way to the top of the hill.

At the top of the hill was a small clearing surrounded by trees. Arrietty made out the fence where she'd said goodbye to Sho. She'd walk through the woods the next morning, that journey would take about a day. Arrietty found a good rock to rest her back against.

The sounds of crickets filled the air as Arrietty slid to the ground. The small borrower pulled some food out of her bag and nibbled on it. Hopefully Sho would give her some food when she saw him. If I see him… No! Don't think like that! You will see him again. Arrietty shivered as the wind blew through the grass. Since it was summer Arrietty hadn't packed for the cold, but it turned out summer nights could be just as chilly as those in the autumn. Suddenly a screeching sound split the air. Arrietty immediately jumped up and started running for cover.

A screech owl! Arrietty panicked as she sprinted away from the sound of flapping wings. Arrietty looked around quickly, she couldn't see any form of cover. She could feel the wind from the wings against the air. It's right behind me! Arrietty heard the owl cry out again, but this time out of pain.

Arrietty felt a sudden force tackle her to the ground. With a yelp of shock Arrietty and what ever had knocked her over tumbled into a hole at the base of a tree. She could hear the owl chasing them. Using its beak the owl snapped at them trying to make the hole in the ground bigger. Arrietty stumbled back in fear. She could make out a figure, It's Spiller! Arrietty thought. The strong borrower drew his bow as he expertly dodged the bird's claws and sharp beak. Spiller took aim and released the arrow. It whistled through the air before finding its mark, the creature's eye.

With a howl of pain the owl retreated and took off into the night. There was silence for a moment, and then Spiller knelt down next to Arrietty, looking deep into her eyes.

There's Chapter two! I hope you liked it :)

Fluffy's Lady: Thank you for the advice! I really appreciate it :) as you can see I put it to good use. I appreciate you taking your time to review my story, it means a lot to me.

Darkness Shade: Thank you for the kind review, I'm glad you like my story so far, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well :)

Thank you all for reading, and please review it means a lot to me, :D